Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-01-07
FUNERAL OF A FIRE-WoRsHlPER.
At the Bedside of the Dying-The Tower
of the Dead-Last Services.

At the Bedside Of the Dying-The Tower
of the Dead-Last Services.
When the medical attendant decides
that a Parsee can not recover, a priest is
sent for, who approaches the bed and
repeats various texts from the Zend-
Avesta calculated to afford consolation
to the dying man. Prayers are also said
for the forgiveness of his sins. When
he dies, a funeral procession is preached,
exhorting the friends of the deceased to
live pure and holy lives that they may
meet him in paradise. They are re-
minded that they must one day be
called from this world to the presence of
God to give full account of their deeds
here, and as they do not know how soon
that may be, they are urged to be pre-
pared for death, and to meet it with re-
signation and willingness. Riches,
wealth, influence and friends will have
no avail in the next world. Those who
desire to reach the eternal paradise must
spend their days here in holiness and
prayer, and in doing good to their
fellow-creatures.
The sermon lasts about an hour, and
concludes with the words, May God
have mercy on the dead"
The body is brought down to the
ground floor (where it was BORN,
washed, perfumed, wrapped in white
sheet, and placed upon an iron bier. A
dog is brought to gaze at the dead face
of his master to drive away evil spirits.
Several priests attend, and repeat
prayers for the repose of the soul of the
departed, and that it may safely reach
its destination, which it is supposed to
do on the fourth day after death. The
relatives and friends all bow low in
token of respect, and the Nasasalar,
clad in pure white garments (Which
are always furnished new for every fun
eraD, raise the bier and bear the body
from the house, while the mourners utter
loud cries and lamentations. Priests in
full dress lead the procession, in which
are only the male relatives and friends
of the deceased. They, too, are dressed
in white, and walk two by two, each
couple joined by holding white hand
kerchief between them.
When the bearers reach the path lead
ing to the door of the tower they place
the bier upon the ground and uncover
the face of the dead, that the friends
may take a last look, and all reverently
bow, after which the mourners turn
back, and enter one of the Sagri, and
pray for the departed spirit The bear
ers proceed to the tower and unlocking
the door, carry their burden within,
and quickly lay it uncovered in one of
the stone receptacles. In two minutes
they appear with the empty bier and
white sheet and the door is no sooner
closed behind them than numerous vul-
lures, that have been sitting almost
motionless in circle on the edge of the
parapet, cwoop down upon the body,
and in a few minutes return and lazily
settle themselves again, having left
nothing behind but a skeleton. The
bearers, on leaving the tower proceed
to building shaped like huge barrel,
where they battle and change their
clothes, bringing out their polluted
: funeral garb and casting it aside upon
receptacle of stone prepared for the pur-
pose. None of these garments can leave
the garden. lest they carry contamina-
ton with them.
The skeleton is left to be bleached and
washed by sun and rain, and when
three or four weeks have passed. the
same bearers return, and with gloved
hands and instruments like tongs drop
the bones into their last resting place,
the central well.
The peculiar duties of the Nasasalar
are considered so inseparabe from de-
Element that, forming distinct class,
they are compelled to live quite apart
from the rest of the community, and as
partial compensation for their iso!a-
ton they are literally paid for their
services.-lIarper's Bazaar.